Organisational units

Biography

After completing my PhD at The University of Otago with Richard Cannon in 1998, I held postdoctoral positions in the laboratories of Professor Mick Tuite (University of Kent) and Professor Nick Proudfoot (University of Oxford).

I returned to New Zealand in 2004 to take up a faculty position at Massey University, and recently moved to the Liggins Institute.

I was awarded the Life Technologies Award for excellence in molecular biology research in 2010, and a Massey University Early Career Research Medal. My research focuses on the functional consequences of the three-dimensional structure of the nucleus. My group published the first method to determine the global genome interaction network, and described a novel DNA interaction pathway between mitochondria and the nucleus. My group has also utilised modelling approaches to construct three-dimensional maps of the nucleus from interaction data.

Research | Current

Understanding how genomes are organized in 3-dimensions and the role that epigenetics has in shaping and maintaining this organization. Studies are designed to advance our understanding of the complex inter-relationships between what a cell’s DNA codes for (the genotype), the epigenetic code, and the result of the genotype’s conditional expression (the phenotype).

Investigating these problems using a holistic systems biology approach to understand genome structure formation, function, and inheritance. This approach integrates methods and technologies from molecular biology, bioinformatics, and computational biology.

Invesigating how the microbiome changes in preterm infants and its effects on later life disease.

Investigating how SNPs contribute to the development of disease through alterations to the 3D organization of gene regulation.

Actively involved in communicating science to the community, I coordinate a Metagenomic study which involves High School students and teachers in the practical and theoretical aspects of a real-life scientific investigation of soil microbiology. (http://www.katoa.ac.nz)

Postgraduate supervision

I have supervised/supervise the following students

Ph.D.

Chris Rodley (graduated 2012)

Ralph Grand (graduated 2014)

Inswasti Cahyani

Malina Doynova

Tatyana Pichugina

Dharani Sontam

William Schierding (Co-supervise)

M.Sc

Rachel Bowden (graduated 2014)

Steven Chou (graduated 2011)

Hons

Ralph Grand (1st class, graduated 2009)

Chris Rodley (1st class, graduated 2007)

Veronica Benton-Guy (1st class, graduated 2013)

Distinctions/Honours

2012-current Associate Investigator in Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development.

03/2012-current Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Long Bay Primary School, New Zealand.

06/2010-current Member of Board of Trustees, Long Bay Primary School, New Zealand.

01/09/10 2010 Life Technologies Life Science Award: for emerging excellence in Molecular biology in New Zealand.

Areas of expertise

My research centres on the use of high throughput techniques in the meta-analyses of genomes. We specialise in the integration of novel experimental and computational techniques to answer biologically relevant questions, including what is the physical structure of a genome within a cell or what is the epigenetic structure of a genome within an environment? Our group also has considerable experience with genetic and biochemical manipulation, mostly in yeast, and increasingly in other organisms.

Committees/Professional groups/Services

28/8/14-current Appointed to Metabolic Health Expert panel for High Value Nutrition National Science Challenge.

01/10/13-28/8/14 Convenor QMB 2014 main meeting.

01/01/2011-01/10/2013 Panellist for the Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology panel, Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand.